Packer



F'IG. 5

`ATTORNE J. L. LAMBERSON, JR

` PACKER Filed Aug. 29, 1956 FIG. 2.

Jan. 13, 1959 FIG.

United States Patent() PACKER Jack L. Lamberson, Jr., Baytown, Tex.,assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla.,a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to a` packingassembly.` More particularly, the present inventionis directed toapacking assembly for independently supporting an oil well tool inatstring of pipe positioned in the boreholeof a well traversing a`subsurface earthen formation. p p

This application contains subject matter common to application Ser. No.606,915 filed of an even date herewith by Roy E. Anderson et al.`entitled"1`esting Tool.

Anobject of the present inventionisthe` provision of a packer assemblyfor supporting a tool` in a string of pipe positionedin the borehole ofa well traversing aniearthen formation. p

Another object is the provision of a packer assembly which `may beutilized to positively position and independently support a` tool in apipe positioned in the borehole of a well traversing a subsurfaceearthen formation.

rlhese and other objects are attained, `in general, through the;provision ot an assembly comprising an oil` well tool, a deformable`packing member carried by said tool, said packing'member having adeformable lip spaced from the body of said tool, and holding means Xedto the outer surface of said packing member below said lip.

'Ehe invention will be further illustrated and` described with referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein:`

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, showing one embodimentof the present invention in an unset position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly showing the device of Fig. lin a set position;

Fig. 3 is a side` elevational View, partly in section, showing oneembodiment ot' the present invention as applied to a Wire line tool fortesting the soundness of a string of pipe positioned `in a well borepenetrating the earths surface; and

Fig. 4 is a` fragmentary side elevational view showing anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Turning now to Figs. 1 `and 2, there is shown a string of pipedesignated generally by the numeral 10, such string of pipe comprising aplurality of pipe sections 12 and 12 interconnected by means of acollar` 14 whereby a collar recess 16 is formed between the spaced endsof adjacent sections of pipe 12 and 12. It will be understood that thepipe 10 may comprise a string of casing, a string of tubing positionedwithin the casing, etc.

InFigs.` 1 and 2 there is schematically shown a body portion 18 of anoilwell tool such` as a sand washing tool, a gun perforating assembly,an extension hanger, a gas lift assembly, a logging assembly, and thelike.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an expansibledeformable cup-shaped packing member 20. The packing member 20 may be`formed of any suitable material` such as hard rubber, etc. The packingmember 20 may face upwardly, as shown, or may, when desired, be faced ina downward position. The packing member 2t) is secured to the body 18ofV an oil well tool by any suitable packer securing means; Thus, forexample, a retaining ring 22 may be provided to which the cup-shapedpacking member 20 is preferably in section,

positively secured by means of a cementing composition (not shown); theretaining ring 22 being xed to the body member 18 by any suitable meanssuch as by means of a weld 24. It will be understood that the retainingring 22 or similar packer securing device may be secured to the bodymember 18` by other means such as by means or` threads, shear pins, etc.or may, if desired, be formed integrally with the body member 18. itwill be noted that the packing member 20 is provided with a lip 26 whichis normally spaced from the body portion t8. A suitable holding means 28is bonded or otherwise positively secured to the outersurface of thepacking member below the lip 26.

The holding means 28 may comprise, tor example, a split ring as is shownin Figs. l to 3 or other suitable structure. For example, a plurality ofindependent ring segments 29 may be secured to the packing member 20 asis shown in Fig. 4.

With this construction, the body member 1S of an oil well tool may belowered through the string of pipe 10 by any suitable means (not shown)such as a wire line until such body member is at a desired depth.Thereafter, a positive downwardly directed pressure may be applied tofluid material present' in the pipe string 10 (e. g., drilling mud,Water, petroleum crude oil, etc.) whereby the split ring 28 is forcedoutwardly into contact with the inner wall of the pipe section 12 due toexpansion of the packing member 20 and the lip 26 thereof. This willnormally be insutlicient in and of itself to positively set the packingmember 20. However, on the continued application of downwardly directedpressure, the expanded split ring 28 will slide downwardly along theinner surface of the pipe section 12 until it is opposite the collarrecess i6, at which time the split ring 28 will be further expanded andpositively seated in the collar recess 16. When this happens the packingmember 20 will be positively positioned against movement. Moreover, thelip.26 will be forced` into positive sealing engagement with the innerwall of the pipe member 12 to prevent duid material in the bore of thepipe string 1t) from bypassing the packing member 20.

With reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the split ring 28 has awidth which is less than but substantially equal to the width of thecollar recess 16 whereby a tight it is obtained. While this is apreferred form of con@ struction, the split ring 2S may, if desired, beof a width which is substantially less than the width of the collarrecess 16 in which instance the split ring 28, when seated, will restupon and be supported by the upper end of pipe section` 12'.

It is to be further observed that the lip 26 extends above the splitring 28 a distance suliicient to permit the lip 26 to be positivelyseated against the wall of the pipe section 12 on expansion oi thepacking member 26.

After the split ring has been set the supporting means (not shown) forthe body member i8 may, it desired, be released and when this is donethe body member 18 will be supported by the split ring 28 and theexpanded packing member 20.

When it is desired to release the packing member 2t), pressure may berelieved above such packing member 20 whereby the split ring 28 and thedeformable packing member 20 will contract to permit the assembly to bemoved upwardly or downwardiy in the bore ot` the pipe string 10.

While the body member i8 of the oil well tooi may ne supported by anysuitable means, the apparatus ofA the present invention linds particularutility in situations wherein the body member 18 is supported by a wireline. Thus, in Fig. 3 there is shown a specic embodiment of the presentinvention wherein a wire line-carried tool for testing the soundness ofa string of pipe is provided with a packing device of the presentinvention.

With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown a length of pipe, such as alength of tubing comprising tubing sections 12a and 12b interconnectedby means of collar 200, whereby a collar recess 202 is defined betweenthe opposed ends of the tubing sections 12a and 12b. A tubing testingtool 204 comprising a deformable packing member 20a constructed inaccordance with the present invention is shown in the string of tubing.The tool 204 comprises a body portion 206 having an upper cupshapedopening 208 defined by a cylindrical wall segment 210. The opening 208is provided with a suitable flow port 212 in the bottom'thereof. Thebody portion 206 also preferably comprises a sinker rod section 214 toprovide weight for the tool 204. A deformable upwardly outwardlyextending rubber packing member 20a is secured to the upper end of thecylindrical wall segment 210 and a metallic expansion ring 28a is iixedto the outer surface of the lip 26a of the packing member 20a. There isalso provided a cylindrically shaped fish neck 220 having a spider 222fixed to the same adjacent the lower end thereof. The portion of thefish neck 220 having the spider 222 affixed thereto is mounted in theopening 208 and secured therein by means of a retaining ring 224 fixedto the interior surface of the cylindrical wall segment 210 adjacent thetop thereof. The lower end of the fish neck 220 is rounded at 226 todene a valve surface and a valve seat 228 formed of any suitablematerial such as hard rubber is provided therefor and mounted in thebottom of the opening 208 about the ow port 212.

Operation of the resting tool f Fig. 3

In operation, the testing tool 204 is lowered within a length of tubingby means of a fishing tool wire line combination (not shown) to adesired depth.

While the testing tool 204 is being lowered, fluent material is bypassedby flow about'the testing tool 204 and also by means of upward flowthrough the port 212 and the opening 208 in the body portion 206. Thus,for example, the tool 204 may be lowered to a point wherein thedeformable packing member a is above and adjacent the collar recess 202defined by the collar 200 and the tubing sections 12a and l2b.

Next, fluid pressure is directed downwardly through the length of tubingand at the same time the wire line (not shown) is suddenly slacked off.As a result, the deformable packing member 20a` is forced outwardly intoengagement with the wall of the tubing section 12a and the iish neck 220is caused to drop relative to the body portion 206 whereby the roundedend thereof is firmly seated in the valve seat 228. The continuedapplication of downwardly directed fluid pressure will cause the thus.

partially set testing tool 201i to slowly descend until the ring 28a ofthe packing member 20a is seated in the collar recess 202, at which timethetesting tool 204 will be positively positioned between the tubingsections 12a and 12b. When the testing tool 4 is thus positively seatedin the indicated manner, it will be apparent that the portion of thelength of tubing above the collar recess 202 will be isolated from the4portion therebelow. A substantially constant pressure may be positivelyapplied to the said isolated upper portion of the string of tubing andthe pressure in such upper portion of the tubing may then be measured.If, on measurement, it is found that there is a decline in pressure withthe passage of time,

this will be a positive indication that there is a leak in` such upperportion of the string of tubing. If the pressure remains substantiallyconstant, this will provide a positive indication that such upperportion is sound. After testing the soundness of such upper portion, itmay be desired to lower the testing tool 204 through the string 4 oftubing to test the soundness of another lower portion of the string oftubing.

When it is desired to lower the testing tool 204 still further, pressureis equalized above and below the tool 204 and tension is applied to theiish neck 220 by means of the wire line-fishing tool combination (notshown) in order to raise the fish neck 220 from the valve seat 228. As aconsequence, pressure is equalized above and below the testing tool 204and the tool 204 may be lowered to a further depth.

lt will be manifest that when it is desired to raise the tubing testingtool 204, the upward pull on the fish neck 220 will maintain the spider222 in bearingiengagement with the retaining ring 224 whereby fluentmaterial may be bypassed by downward flow through the opening 208 andthe port 212.

What is claimed is:

l. An assembly for use in a well containing a string of collared pipesections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprisingan oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter lessthan the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly comprising a hollowresilient normally contracted outwardly deformable packing member havingan opening communicating with the said hollow portion thereof, saidpacking member being liuidly expansible into contact with the innersurface of said pipe on application of fluid pressure, means forsecuring said packing member to the body portion of said tool, andsupport means fixed to the outer surface of said deformable packingmember for nesting engagement within a collar recess on expansion ofsaid packingI member through the application of fluid pressure, saidsupport means having a vertical width less than the width of said collarrecesses, whereby the outer surfaces of said deformable member onexpansion thereof will be forced into sealing engagement with the innersurface of said pipe adjacent said support means.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said support means is a split ring.

3. An assembly for use ina well containing a string of collared pipesections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprisingan oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter lessthan the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly comprising a normallycontracted outwardly deformable packing cup formed of a non-metallicresilient material, said cupped packing member being expansible intocontact with the inner surface of said pipe on the application of uidpressure intermediate said body portion and inner surface of said cup,means for securing said packing member to the body portion of said tool,and support means fixed to the outer surface of said cup adjacent therim thereof for nesting engagement with a collar recess on expansion 0fsaid cup member, said support means having a vertical width less thanbut substantially equal tothe width of the collar recess whereby the rimof said packing member on expansion thereof will be forced intofluid-tight sealing engagement with the inner surface `of said pipeadjacent,said support means.

4. An assembly for use in a well containing a string of collared pipesections having inner annular collar recesses, said assembly comprisingan oil well tool having a body portion, said tool having a diameter lessthan the diameter of said pipe, a packer assembly, means for securingsaid packer assembly to the body portion of said tool, said packerassembly comprising a normally contracted outwardly deformable packingcup member formed of a non-metallic resilient material, the rim section`of said cup member being spaced from the body portion of said tool,said rim member being outwardly deformable into contact with the innerwall of said pipe on the application of uid pressure intermediate saidbody portion and said rim section, the outer surface of said rim sectionhaving a width greater than the width of said collar recess, a splitring fixed to said rim sec-V tion for resting engagement with a collarrecess on expansion of said cup member, said split ring having avertical width less than but substantially equal to the width of saidcollar recess, whereby said rim of said cup member on expansion thereofwill be forced into sealing engagement with the surface of said pipe onopposite sides of said split ring.

6 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCameron Feb. 3, 1925 Boynton Feb. 19, 1946 Ragan Mar. 10, 195.3 ConnollyOct. 12, 1954

